Rocker box housing



Aug. 30, 1932. A. M. NlvEN ROCKER BOX HOUSING Filed sept. 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR ecw/f /17 /l/ff/v ATTORNEY.

Aug. 30, 1932.

A. M. NIVEN l 1,874,338

ROGKER BOX HOUSING Filed Sept. 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. I #fam/f /ZVV//f/v' ATTORNEY.

Patented Au'rg. 30, 1932 UNITED STAT-ES PATENT 4ol-#Flcfzlt-i, i

ARCHIE M'. NIvLeN;y 'or DETROIT, -MIcvzIIIeAN, ,AssrGNoIg BYMESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To

CONTINENTAL AIm'm'AIT-iINaINnY COMPANY, A coRPonATIoN oF ImIaAWAanV aocixnnfnox HOUSING" Appll'ifgaaianmeaV september 1s, 192e. "semina, 393,341. Y 4

This invention `relates tointernal combusform which my invention may assume, and

tion engines and more2 articularly to an improved rocker box-houslng thereforwhich is" speciall adapted-'Lto besecured tothe cylinder o an air cooled radiali-,aircraft engine, 'thoughl I do vnot limitl'my invention exclusively for :use with aircraftl engines.

Aseparate housing for thefivalve mechanismi which includes the, rocker arm has many advantages over the solid type of rocker arm housing, which is' most 'generally cast integrally`withtl1e cylinder.`. In 'an engine provided with a separate housing., access may be had "more easilylto the worklng parts of the valve operating 'mechansmhoused therein, thereby facilitating the 'repalr and adjustment of the working parts of said valve operating mechanism. l'With the "present "type of separate rocker'boxlhousingsmost Z0 L ll v'd Aread access is not had to the genen y use a y --be secured;

mechanism housed therein;because the' yseparate rocker armhousings arev bolted down tothe cylinder castingfwlth a large number of bolts, thus entailing considerable time and effort' in removing the housing for the purpose of making-the necessary adjustments or re air to the valve mechanism. Y Iit is the object of lmy inventionlto provide an improved form Aof housingfor the valve operating mechanismthat may be readily andy easily removed,when it is necessary to have access to the valve operating mechanism housed therein..V 'Y fi l A further object of my invention'ls to provide an "improved` engine structure 1in which a separate rocker box' housing maybe A very quickly and readilylassembled in' proper position with respect to the rocker arma;

-A still further; object of my invention l1sI to provide an. improved type of internal combustion engine of the character as set forth above, in which a separate rocker-box housing may be positively andfirmly located and secured in the proper :position Withrespect to the rocker arm, but j which may be` readily removed with a minimumof time andfeffort. For a more detailed understanding of-my invention, reference maybe had Ito the` ac- 50 companyingl dravvings f' which illustrate one tov invwhich:

rFigure 1 1s a vertlcal sectional vlew through a portion ofan internalcombustion with my -ure l and Ashowing'thel rocker box housing and the meansV place;` i 4Figure -3is a detailed sectional view of a for fastening the same in Amodified form of fastening means for fasten- VAing down the housing;

x Figure 4 is. a detail in perspective of the housing'as illustratedain Figures 1 and 2;

`Figures 5, 6 and 7 are vertical vsectional views of further modified `forms offconstruction showing vvarious types off su ports to which theuhousing structure is adilpted to `Figure 8 is a detail in perspective of the bridge structure as illustrated-.in Figure 5.

A `standard type of an` air cooledradial combustion engine is herein illustrated and includes a cylinder casting A in which a standard type of valve, having a valve stem B, is supporteda standard valve operating mechanism being incorporated therewith and vincluding a pivoted rocker arm C,that is arranged to be actuated by a 'push rod Dto open and close the` valve.

With ,my improved construction, I pref- Y erably provide a valve operating mechanism Y that is located substantially beyond the outer limits ofthe cylinder casting and is enclosed Within a separate housing structure secured tothe cylinder casting. The cylinder casting A is provided with a pair of spaced rocker arm supports 10 and 11 for each rocker arm.

As the construction of the'valve mechanism foroperating the exhaust .valves and intake valves of the engine aresubsta-ntially identical in structure, it is merely necessary to describe and illustrate but one structure, the structure illustratedin the drawings being adapted foreither the intake or exhaust valve operating mechanisms. These permanent supports-l0 and 11 are' preferably cast integrally with the cylinder, .but `obviously the preferably provide a bridge 13 (Figure 2) that is secured to the upperend of the spaced rocker arm supports 10 and 11 by ymeans of the screws 14, the said bridge arranged to span the rocker arm. The central portion Aof the bridge 13 is vprovided with the internally threaded recess 15 for receiving` the 'externally threaded stud portion 16 of :a fastening device 17. .The rocker arm housing is preferably constructed of sheet metal fand comprises :an inverted box-like shell provided with a bottom wall 17 side walls 18 andend walls v19. The bottom wall or base 17 is providedxwith Va vperforation 20 'and the side walls are provided with the cut-away portions 21, said housing `.being arranged to be assembled to the lenginelstructure, the perforation 20 ybrought in registrationwiththe threadedhole in-th'efbriidge 13, andthe fastening device 17 then screwed down, the flanges 21 carried by said fastening -devices Abeing adapted to clamp the bottom wall-17 of the housingto the bridge structure. The Acutaway portions 21 of. the housing provide clearance for the headof the rocker'arm shaft andthe nut'which anchors thev said shaft in the supports.` The side walls'of the housing f are arranged to lie against `the outer 'face of the rocker arm supports and thus when the `fastening device is screwed down, thereby fastening the housing to 'the bridge'carried Aby these supports, the housing'strueture `is properly positioned with respect yto the rocker arm pivotally supported between the spaced rocker arm supports.

Figure 3 illustrates a modified form of fastening device wherein a bolt 22 is provided, which may be inserted through `a perforation 23 in the bridge and the'perforation 2O in the housing, a nut 24 screwed down on the bolt to clamp the housing tothe bridge,

a cotter pin 25 then being inserted in the bolt to prevent the retraction ofthefnut24.

VFigures`5. to 8 inclusive illustrate further modified forms of construction wherein an arched bridge is-utilized to compensate .for theshorter supports 10 and 11, the rocker arm being positioned beneath the arched por- Ftion-o the bridge, and thehousing arranged tobefastened solely to the said"`arched-rpor ftion',V vThe use. of `rocker arin supportsv of downthe housing structure.

Y ture.

gine, the combination of a cylinder, valve smaller size, materially reduces the overall weight of the engine. With reference 'to Figure 5, it will be noted that a slightly modified form of fastening device is used, an externally threaded stud 26v being welded or otherwise secured to the arched bridge 13, .and a nut 27 similar in construction to that illustrated in Figure 3, utilized for fastening With reference to Figure '6,it will be noted that a different form of arched bridge is used and the rocker armshaft is fastened in the supports and prevented from endwise movement by the dowel`28 that engages within ftheann'lar groove .29 in theroeker arm shaft 12a. Ifdesire'd, thisdowel 28 may be formed as an v'extension -offone of the fastening de- AVices 14, which secure the bridge structure '13bto the rocker arm supports. In addition Figure illustrates another type of fastening device for fastening Vdown the housing struc- In the structure herein illustrated, the cut-away portion 21 is eliminated and the housing is lfitted flush against the outside face of each rocker arm support, the nut 30 being screwed down -on the stud 31 carried by the bridge 13b until the housing'is firmly anchored in place. A split 'ring 32 is sprung intol the kannu-lar groove y32 Vcarried by the Y'nut-3,0 to lock the housing structure to the nut. f

Figure -7 shows a bridge 'structure similar torthatshown `in Figure 6 vand a fastening device similar -to that shown in Figure 6 to- ,fgether with r`a fhousing structure similar to 'that shown in Fi re 4.

It Iwill benoted that jwith the structure as described'a'bove, that `Iliave provided a separate housing for-inclosng the valve mechanism, fthat-I'nay be very readil-yand quickly detached by V`removing the single removable fastening means which 5clamps the housing tothe gbridge. The single fastening means firmly anchors the housing'to the cylinder vcast-ing, andfso cooperates with the rocker l.arm supports as to ,position the said housing with respect to the rocker armpivotall-y supported between said supports.

The rockerfarmhousing is simple -in constru'ction'and'niay be very 'economically man- 'ufac'tured as 'wellas ver'ylquiclly .and economically 'assembled :with the engine structure.

Although Ihfave illustratedbut one form "be appfarentfto thoseskilled in the art'to ywhich fmy vinvention pertains, 'that various -modicatio'ns and changes maybe made therein "without -dep'artingifrom the V'spirit of my 'invention orfromlthe-scope ofithe appended claims.

What I cllaimaas my invention is: y 1. v.In 'an airl cooled internal combustion en- :ia-aware Operating mechanism therefor positioned substantially beyond the outerlimits of said cylinder, a pair of spaced supports carried by said cylinder, a rocker arm pivotally supported between said supports, a bridge se cured to said supports and spanning said rocker arm, and a rocker arm housing secured to said bridge.

2. In an air cooled internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder, a valve operating mechanism therefor positioned substantially beyond the outer limits of said cylinder, a pair of spaced supports carried by said cylinder, a rocker arm, means for pivotally securing the rocker arm to said supports, a bridge secured to said supports and spanning said rocker arm, and a separate rocker arm housing secured to said bridge and provided with means cooperating with said supports for positioning the housing with respect to the rocker arm.

3. In an air cooled internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder, valve operating mechanism therefor positioned substantially beyond the outer limits of said cylinder, a pair of spaced supports carried by said cylinder, a rocker arm, means for pivotally securing the rocker arm to said supports, a bridge secured to said supports and spanning said rocker arm, and a rocker arm housing secured to said bridge and provided with side walls arranged to cooperatively engage said supports to position the housing with respect to the rocker arm.

4. In an air cooled internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder, valve operating mechanism therefor positioned substantially beyond the outer limits of said cylinder, a pair of spaced supports carried by said cylinder, a rocker arm, means for pivotally securing the rocker arm to said supports, a bridge secured to saidsupports and spanning said rocker arm, a rocker arm housing, means for securing the housing toV the bridge, and means for positioning the housing with respect to the rocker arm housed therein.

5. In an air cooled internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder, valve operating mechanism therefor positioned substantially beyond the outer limits of said cylinder, a pair offspaced supports carried by said cylinder, a rocker arm pivotally supported between said supports, a bridge secured to said supports and spanning said rocker arm, a rocker armhousing, and a single removable fastening means for securing said housing to the bridge.

6. In an air cooled internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder, valve operating mechanism therefor positioned substantially beyond the outer limits of said cylinder, a pair of spaced supports carried by said cylinder, a rocker arm pivotally supported between said supports, an arched secured tothe arched bridge.- l

bridgesecred to' said supports' and spanning `said `rocker;arm,, anda` rocker arm housing .1 7. nxim airV cooled'k internal .combustion yengine, l combination `of `a cylinder, valvez'l operating `mechanismV therefor 'positioned substantially beyond 4the outer limits of said cylinder, ia ,pair of spaced supports carried by Said cylindena rocker arm pivotally-sup- -portedbetween said supports, a bridge `struc-f` fturesecured to 4said supports and, spanning .eaidprocken arm, and. a Arocker arm housing secured solely; to said" bridge.

In anair cooled internal-combustion engine, the :combination of a `cylindercasingvalve operating mechanism. therefor includingfa. rockerarman'd positioned substantially `lwbyondthe: outer limitsv lof said cylinder, `Inea`ns` -ifor supportingthe rocker arm `with respect to the cylinder, a rocker arm housing,

:asing'lefastening means for removably sej curing said: housing to theV casing,'and means 'including Aa dependlng portionA carried by the housing andaadapted` for engagement with rocker; arm :supports-:for positioning said' housing with respect tothe casing androcker :9.,:"11'11811'1 air @holed internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder, a valve operating mechanism therefor positioned 'ilsubstantially beyond the outer limits of said cylinder, spaced rocker arm supports carried by the cylinder, a rocker arm pivotally supported therebetween, a bridge secured to said supports and provided with an eXter-l nally threaded stud, a rocker arm housing provided with a perforation through which said stud is projected, and a nut adjustably secured with said stud to secure the housing to the bridge. f

10. In an air cooled internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder, a valve operating mechanism therefor positioned substantially beyond the outer limits of said cylinder, spaced rocker arm supports carried by the cylinder, a rocker arm pivotally supported therebetween, a bridge secured to said supports and provided with an internally threaded hole, a rocker arm housing provided with a perforation, and a fastening device having an externally threaded shank ar-Y ranged to be threaded through the perforation in the housing and screwed into the internally threaded hole in the bridge to .secure the housing to said bridge.

l1. In an air cooled internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder, a valve operating mechanism therefor positioned substantially beyond the outer limits of said cylinder, spaced rocker arm supports carried by the cylinder, a rocker arm pivotally supported therebetween, a bridge secured to said supports and spanning said rocker arm, a box-like sheet metal rocker arm housing for completely enclosing said valve control mech- F.

flics ansm beyondthe outerflimits of the cylinder, n anda single fastening means for removably a securing said housing to .saidbridge structure.

ao'u- 12. In an air cooled internal'combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder, valve operating mechanism therefor positioned substantially beyond the outer limits of said cylinder, a pair of spaced supports carried by said cylinder, av rocker arm, means for pivotally'securing the rocker armto said support, abridge .secured to said supports and spanning saidl rocker arm, andaV rocker arm housing secured tosaid bridge and provided With'side wallsv engaging the outer faces of said supports to position the housing with respect to the rocker arm.

13. In an vaircooled internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder, valve operating -mechanism vtherefor positioned substantially vbeyond the outer limits of said cylinder, a rocker arm, means carried byv said cylinderffor supporting the rocker arm, a

rocker arm housing, a single fastening means for securing ythe housing to said cylinder, and pilotmeans for positioning said housing with respect tothe rocker arm.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. v' Y ARCHIE M. NIVEN. 

